Vehicle controlling mechanism



Sept. 2 1924'.

H. A. WAGNER VEHICLE CONTROLLING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet, 1

Filed March 4. 19'2" INVENTOR. Hem A. Magma? ATTORNEY,

Se t. 29 1924. 1,506,794

I v H. A. WAGNER VEHI CLE CONTROLLING MECHAN I SM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 4, 1920 Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. WAGNZE, 0F TOLEEO, GHIQ.

EO'NTRQLLENG MEGKANISM.

Application tiled March t,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hnmiv A. WAGNER, residing at Toledo, county of Lucas, Sta e of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Controlling Mechanism, of which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

My inventionrelates to vehicle controlling mechanism and has for its object the combining of certain parts of said mechanism in such a manner as to aii'ord manipulation of the same by the operator with the least possible inconvenience.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for controlling the electric lights of an automobile.

Still another object of the invention is to combine means for controlling both the electric light and the signaling circuits of a motor vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved form of switch in which one circuit controlling member is carried by another.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in combination with the push hutton. a switch for controlling certain electric circuits of the motor vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide, within the horn button of the vehicle, a switch for controlling the headlight circuit to vary the intensity of the light.

Still another object of the invention is to construct a member for securing the steering wheel upon the steering column in such a manner as to form a housing both for the horn button of the vehicle and the switch for the dimming of the headlights.

To these and other ends, the invention contemplates certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, which will ,be hereinafter pointed out and claimed, it being understood that the present embodiment is merely illustrative of one form which the invention may take and that other forms may be developed embodying the principles set forth herein without departing from the scope of the invention when considered in its broadest aspect.

A construction constituting one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure I is a plan view of a motor ve- 1920. Serial No. 333,279.

hicle upon which is illustrated in conventional or diagranmntic "form, one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional View through the steering column, illustrating the manner of applying certain parts of the invention thereto.

l igure III is a detailed plan of the base of the push button with the operating parts removed therefrom.

Figure 1V is a similar view with the contact disc shown in normal position to close the switch.

Figure V is a plan view similar to Figure iV showing the switch operating lever as-,

sembled and secured upon the contact disc.

Figure V1 is a top plan view of the push a portion of the steering wheel. v H is a sectional view taken on line VH VH of Figure VI.

Figure VH1 is a view similar to Figure V with the switch shown in open position.

Figure IX is a detail plan of the contact disc shown in Figure IV.

Figure X is a detail plan of the switch operating lever.

l igure XI illustrates the wiring diagram of the signal and head light circuits of the automobile.

Similar reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

In the emhodimentof the invention illustrated herewith 10 represents an automobile having an engine 11 upon which is preferably mounted a horn or signal 12. A steering column 13 has its upper end enclosed in a tubular member 14 upon which rests a steering wheel 15, through which extends the steering column, said 'wheel being secured upon the column by means of a retaining nut or member 16.

The automobile is provided with a suitable lighting system, including the headlights 17 and also with a generator 18. a battery 19, a current indicator 20, lamp switch 21 and circuit breaker 22; and may be supplied with all other electrical appliances and fixtures deemed necessary, which are not shown in the drawings.

The retaining nut 16 for the steering wheel 15 is provided with an extension 23 forming a housing for the push button 24 from which extends downwardly into the steering column a rod having at its lower end a switch or contact member 26, preferably in the term of a disc, the diameter of which is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the steering column. 13. Between the push button 24 and retaining nut 16:15 a spring 27, normally tact member 26 out of engagement with the bolt 28 extending through the steering column, with its opposite ends secured upon the insulating members 29 and 31), which are anchored in the-wall of the steering column as shown in Figure 11. A wire or connec tion 31 leads from the contact member or bolt 28 to the horn l2 and'when the push button 24 is depressed so thstthe dis: 9.6 engages the bolt 28 the signal circuit will be closed, the circuit being completed through the steering column, and buttery both of which are preferably grounded on the frame of the automobile and throughv connection 31. wire 34, current indicator 20, and Wire 35.

The ush button-is guided in the housing 23 oy means of s. set screw project ing into a slot 35 formed in the lower part of the push button as shown in. Figure H.

The push button which is formed of insulating material comprises the ixpper and lower portions 36, 37 respectively which are connected by means of the screws 38 as shown in Figure VII. The upper portion 36 is provided with an annular flange shoulder 39 engaged by the inturned flange 40 of the housing 23 whereby outward dis placement of the button is prevented.

The push button forms a casing in which is mounted the dimming switch for the electric lights shown in Figure V11. Two wires or connections ll and 42 lead from the lamp switch 21 through the steering column casing 14. into the steering column 13 and upwardly into the short tubular members 1-3 mm 44 respectively where they are secured by the binding screws so. The tubular member 43 extends upwardly through and into the lower ortion 37 of the push 'button and is provi ed with a laterally extending horizontal portion 16, having an upstanding contact member 47 seated against an abutment or shoulder 48 formed by cutting away a portion of the, inner wall of the lower push button member 37 Whereh Y a recess 49 is formed. for n purpose which will presently he described. The tubular member 44 also extends upwardly through the base of; the push button and is provided with o. lateral and inwardly extending con tact portion 50 which is pre'iershly deressed at itse rbremity as indicated at 51 in Figure VII, said depressed portion being scated in a recess formed in the base of the push button and having mounted thereon the upstanding pin or projection 52 upon.

holding the conhorn 12, wire 32, fuse 33,

which is rotstehly mounted the contact disc 53, having the lateral segmental projection 54 ads ted to move within the recess 4-9 when t e switch opened and closed. A

stop 53 is seated against an abutment 55 formed on the base of the push button 'hereby movement of the contact disc is limited when the switch is moved from closed to open position as shown in Figure VIIL' Interposed between the depressed extremity 51 of the contact member 50 and the contact disc is a spring 55 for holding said disc in spaced relation to the contact ortions 46 sud 50 and also for yieldingly liolding the disc in engagement with the disc 56 which is superimposed upon said contact disc and rotatably mounted upon the pina'iQ as shown in Figure VII. The disc 56 is provided with a central upstanding tubular projection 56' into which end pin projects, snid projection having its upper end seated upon the inner wall of the upper push button. member 36 upon which the projection is adapted to rotate when the disc 56 is rotated by means oiithc arm or lever 57 curried thereby, said arm being provided at its outer extremity with a button or knob 58 as shown in gm-c VII. The lever or arm 5? extends outwardly from the push button through a slot 5!.) in the wall thereof to 11 position convenient to the fingers of the operator when his hand is in position to sound the horn or signal.

It will be noted that the contact disc 53 is provided upon its upper face with two sets ofcirculer depressions (30 and (H in staggered relation and spaced at. equal dis tances from the center or the disc as shown in Figure IX. The superimposed disc 56 carrying the lever 57 is provided on its bottom sid with two convex bend-like projections 2 adapted to rest in one or the other of the two sets of circular depressions (30 and 61 when said lever is moved to its extreme positions of adjustment, as indicated in Figures V and Vlll. When the lever is in the position shown in Figure V, the beads or projections 52 lie within the dcpressions (it) and when said lever is in the opposite. position as shown in Figure VIII said projections lie within the depressions 61. In moving the lever from one position to another the contact disc 55 is uutomaticslly actuated after the lever moved substantially the full amount in either direction. The contact disc begins to move at the moment when the beads or projections on the upper disc enter the depressions on the lower disc. At such time the lower disc is quickly kicked over to engage either the contact member 47 or the stop53', depending upon the direction. in which the lever is bein moved. Movement er the contact disc in this manner is due to the pressure 0r 55 becoming sudhas been denl relieved, to a certain extent, when the heads on the'upper disc move into the concave depressions on the lower disc, wherethe upper inclined member moves upon t e lower to effect movement of the same when a certain amount of the pressure between the discs is relieved, by decreasing the pressure on the spring. Such an arrangement serves also to normally hold the segmental portion 54 of the lower disc in engagement with the contact member 47 so that perfect contact will at all times be insured.

Normally, when the lights are burning bright,-the dimmin switch is in closed position as shown in igure V, at which time current will flow from the battery through wires 35, 34, 63, switch 21, wire 41, dimmin switch 64, wires 42 and 65 to headlights 1% and thence to ground. When the dimming switch 64 is 0 n, the circuit will be completed throug the resistance 66, whereby the reduction in the intensity of the light is effected.

While I have described my invention in more or less detail and as being embodied in certain precise forms, I do not desire or intend to be limited thereto, but on the contrsry the invention contemplates broadly all proper chan es, both in the omission of immaterial e ements and the substitution of push button,

equivalents therefor, as circumstances su est or conditions render expedient.

hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1 In combination, a switch operating and a circuit controlling switch, both contacts of which are mounted within and bodily movable ton, said last-named switch having an operating lever extending laterally therefrom movable in a plane at right angles to the direction of movement of-said push button.

2. In combination, a motor vehicle steering column, a signal switch mounted within said column, a ush button therefor mounted on the endo said column and a li hting switch carried entirely by said push utton having an operating arm extending laterally thereof.

3. In combination, a motor vehicle steering column, a signal switch mounted therein, a push button for said switch carried by said column, means to prevent relative rotation between said column and said push button, a second switch comprising stationary and rotatable contact members mounted in said push button and a handle for moving said rotatable contact member.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

HENRY A. WAGNER.

may

with said push but- 

